Maryland

Supplementing the Maryland Efficiency Program Administrators’ 2015-2017 energy efficiency plans, a June 2015 Order by Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC) extended the EmPOWER Maryland program beyond its legislative targets, directed establishment of comprehensive gas efficiency programs, adopted the societal cost test for cost-effectiveness screening, and set ambitious electric efficiency savings targets of roughly two percent of retail sales annually.

Yet, significant staffing changes at the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and pronouncements by Governor Larry Hogan of his opposition to expanded investments in energy efficiency have clouded the issue and threatened Maryland’s status as a regional leader in energy efficiency policy. The Governor’s statements were confirmed by a MEA PSC filing withdrawing support for the investment necessary to achieve the targets set by the June order. Subsequently a December 2014 PSC Order approved most of the requested efficiency program funding increases, but in many cases only until the next round of semi-annual hearings in June 2016.

Complementary Policies

In buildings news, the PSC has granted cost recovery for an automated commercial building benchmarking system, which will facilitate customer awareness and engagement with the EmPOWER energy efficiency programs. Adoption of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will make commercial building codes eight percent more stringent, and one percent more so for residential codes.

2015 program year data as reported to the NEEP EM&V Forum for the Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED) and E2's Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report. Savings are expressed in net annual terms.